Understanding the `type` module field in package.json
12 Mar 2025
6 min read
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Overview
- Possible Values of `"type"`
- `"commonjs"` (default if omitted)
- `"module"`
- When to Use Each?
- Use `"commonjs"` if:
- Use `"module"` if:
- Mixed Usage
- Impact of Changing `"type"` to `"module"` in a Next.js TypeScript Project
- Why Did You Get the Error?
- What Happens if You Set `"type": "module"`?
- Problems You Might Face After Switching to `"module"`
- `next.config.js` Might Break
- Cannot Use `__dirname` and `__filename`
- `require()` Will Stop Working
- External Packages Might Not Support ESM
- How to Fix Your `ts-node` Issue Without Changing `"type"`?
- Option 1: Use `ts-node --loader ts-node/esm`
- Option 2: Rename `chatgpt-ai.ts` to `chatgpt-ai.mts`
- Option 3: Add `"module": "NodeNext"` in `tsconfig.json`
- Should You Change `"type"` to `"module"` in a Next.js Project?
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